Photographers Salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
The median pay for a photographers in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA is $46,500/year ($22.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.6), so that salary is closer to $42,818 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,512/month — about 78.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles’s Regional Price Parity (108.6). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111K | +160% | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +43% | 1,170 |
| New York | $58K | +36% | 3,620 |
| Oregon | $56K | +31% | 570 |
| Minnesota | $55K | +29% | 530 |
| New Jersey | $51K | +19% | 1,280 |
| California | $51K | +19% | 7,300 |
| Delaware | $50K | +18% | 250 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +17% | 160 |
| Louisiana | $50K | +17% | 410 |
| Connecticut | $48K | +13% | 490 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | +13% | 180 |
| Utah | $48K | +12% | 650 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +7% | 450 |
| Maryland | $45K | +6% | 870 |
| Mississippi | $45K | +5% | 190 |
| Maine | $45K | +5% | 170 |
| Washington | $45K | +5% | 1,260 |
| Virginia | $43K | +2% | 1,360 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -1% | 300 |
| New Mexico | $42K | -2% | 210 |
| Georgia | $40K | -6% | 1,950 |
| Wyoming | $40K | -7% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $40K | -7% | 2,000 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | -7% | 1,040 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -8% | 290 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -10% | 1,620 |
| Florida | $38K | -10% | 4,450 |
| Arizona | $38K | -10% | 1,090 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -11% | 360 |
| Missouri | $37K | -12% | 810 |
| Indiana | $37K | -12% | 870 |
| Idaho | $37K | -13% | 170 |
| Texas | $37K | -14% | 3,780 |
| Iowa | $36K | -14% | 370 |
| Alaska | $36K | -15% | 50 |
| Montana | $36K | -15% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -15% | 1,090 |
| Kansas | $36K | -15% | 270 |
| Nevada | $36K | -16% | 790 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -17% | 120 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -17% | 100 |
| Alabama | $35K | -17% | 490 |
| North Dakota | $35K | -17% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -18% | 590 |
| Illinois | $35K | -19% | 2,530 |
| Ohio | $34K | -20% | 1,970 |
| Arkansas | $34K | -20% | 240 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do photographers make in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The median is $46,500 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,280, and experienced photographers can clear $84,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,193/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,512/month, which eats 78.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a photographers salary go in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles has a Regional Price Parity of 108.6 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median photographers salary is worth about $42,818 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do photographers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.